About Us

What is API?

The Accessible Prosthetics Initiative (API) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that believes prosthetics should be available to those who need them. API tackles this goal in a holistic manner through community engagement, educational initiatives and accessible device development. We work with amputees, healthcare professionals, students, and volunteers to achieve our goals.

API has gone through several iterations before becoming the organization that we are today. Originally ideated in July, 2018 by our founder, Dylan Beam, API was intended to be a center for the manufacturing and distribution of 3D-printed prosthetics. As our team became more aware of the nuanced problems related to lacking access to prosthetic care, our mission shifted to the multi-faceted approach we hold today. In January 2019, our first chapter (and predecessor to the non-profit) was formed at The Ohio State University (OSU) with the intention of continuing to serve the amputee community in perpetuity. API began developing into the non-profit we know today in March, 2020 once the COVID-19 epidemic made so much of the world turn remote. Since March of 2020, we have grown from a student organization of 30 students, to a non-profit with over 200 volunteers in over 10 states with 5 university chapters- and counting.

Teams

The holistic approach we take at API involves factors beyond improving prosthetics. At API, we’re always working on projects that help us progress forward. Check out our teams page to see what projects we are working on! Our teams are multi-disciplinary, so volunteers from any background can join API and become an integral part of the organization!

If you would like to learn more about who we are and what we do or how you can get involved, please don’t hesitate to email us at info@apiprosthetics.org or message us on our social media @apiprosthetics